Adoption Tail: Rascal
Back in January of 2020, Joanne Sparkman’s daughter had her heart set on a shelter pup after seeing his picture online during her lunch break.
The pup in question is a terrier-mix named Rascal. His shelter photo showed a happy guy, with his tail in full motion, perked up ears and one paw up, waiting for love and attention.
After getting home and showing Joanne the picture and asking if they could get him, Joanne had to make sure that everyone was on board.
“I told her first we’d have to ask dad.” Joanne, or Beaverton, said.
Once they got the go-ahead from dad, they reached out to the shelter to see if he was available.
“We weren’t the first to inquire about him,” Joanne said. “There were several before us.”
Despite there being many inquiries, when Joanne called, she was stunned to find out that he was still available, but there was another person coming to check him out that same day and he might be taking him.
“I let them know that if they didn’t want him that I did.” Joanne said.
A half-hour later, they received a call back that the other people didn’t show up.
“So I went and got him!” Joanna said.
Rascal was around 1 or 2 years old when Joanne and her family went and adopted him.
“He is a wonderful dog,” Joanne said. “I’m surprised no one else wanted him. He is the best dog, for a terrier.”
Joanne remembers that adoption process being an easy one. They just had to sign a paper, pay his adoption fee and agree to get him fixed. The shelter staff let them pick out a couple of toys for their new furry friend.
Once they got him home, Rascal adjusted well. At first, Joanne said that he did seem a bit scared that they would leave him as well. They did their best to make him feel safe, until there was a small hiccup when they had to get him fixed. He ended up having to stay at the vet for a bit to heal up.
“He was adjusting well until we had to get him fixed,” Joanne said. “He was over a year old and he had now gone from the only home he had known, to the shelter, to our house and then had to stay for a while at the vet. When he finally came home, he was so happy!”
Once his vet ordeal was over and he was able to fully integrate himself into his new home, his family was so happy to see his true colors come forward.
“He loves car rides, cuddles, going where ever we go, vacationing, kayaking and sitting next to me,” Joanne said. “He's friendly, happy, very loving, and we are so happy to have him!”
Rascal was not their first adopted pet, and it won’t be their last. Rascal shares his home with 2 other terriers and 2 hounds.
Joanne said that she would highly recommend adopting a shelter pet.
“They have so much love to give,” Joanne said.
The Gladwin County Animal Shelter began operation in 1976, and is dedicated to serving the needs of the animals and citizens of Gladwin County. In 2021, the shelter cared for a little over 970 animals (218 dogs & 756 cats), and continues to make every effort possible to ensure that all healthy, adoptable animals have safe and loving homes and the community practices responsible animal guardianship. Follow the Shelter on Facebook at facebook.com/GladwinAnimalShelter and find them online at https://gladwincountyanimalshelter.com/.
The shelter is always accepting donations, which can be dropped off at the shelter during office hours to their physical location at 919 S. River Road, Beaverton, MI 48612, or mailed to their mailing address of, 401 W. Cedar Ave., Gladwin, MI 48624. The shelter is also now able to accept monetary donations online at: Linda Haight Gladwin County Animal Shelter Endowment Fund #00838 – Midland Area Community Foundation (midlandfoundation.org).
You can also donate now by purchasing Gladwin County Animal Shelter Merchandise from Main Street Designs in Gladwin! You can purchase online by visiting the shelter’s website.
Donations of time are also appreciated, volunteers can call 989-426-4579 or email gladwincountyanimalshelter@gmail.com to find out ways they can assist at the shelter.